Saying that "You don't get to celebrate a 200th anniversary very often," Gov. Sonny Perdue issued a proclamation Thursday congratulating the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce for just such a milestone.

Perdue, in Savannah to address a meeting of the Georgia Airport Association, said the establishment of a Savannah Chamber in December, 1806, points out how long the coastal city has been contributing to the economy of the state.

In the two centuries since a group of prominent merchants established the city's first chamber, the organization has backed numerous ventures, including the maiden voyage of the S.S. Savannah, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic, in 1819.

In the early 1920s, the chamber helped create the Savannah Port Authority, which later became the Savannah Economic Development Authority.

Other projects included launching the N.S. Savannah, the world's first nuclear-powered cargo ship, in 1962; the 1996 Olympics and the G8 Summit in 2004.

To celebrate its first 200 years, the chamber will host a black-tie gala Dec. 13 at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center and a lecture Dec. 14 featuring Richard Florida, author of "The Flight of the Creative Class," "The Rise of the Creative Class" and "Cities and the Creative Class."

"Our community's ability to adapt to the changes in the business climate is a testament to the progressive attitude our members have put forth since 1806," said Steve Green, chairman of the 200th Anniversary committee.

"It's really our members and their belief in this community that have kept us going strong 200 years."